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KANSAS RHYMES 



AND 



OTHER LYRICS 




BY n\^yfi^ 

FREDERICK ATWOOD 




OBANE & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 

TOPEKA, KANSAS 

1903 



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CONTENTS. 

Kansas Rhymes: 

Pagk. 

Kansas, 9 

The Growing Corn, U 

The Hot Wind, 12 

The Breaking of the Drought, 13 

In June, 13 

After Next Year's Crop, 14 

Come to Kansas, Ig 

Raising Cane, 18 

To the Dandelion, 22 

A Bunch of Sonnets: 

A Love-Letter, 27 

Antipodes, . . • 28 



Life and Death, 



29 



The Awakening, ^ 3q 

To an Easter Lily, * 31 

" Not Peace, but a Sword," 32 

A Birthday Greeting, 33 

Henry George, 34 

Columbia — 1898, 35 

A Tribute to H. B., 36 

Love, 37 

Other Lyrics: 

A Hymn of Thanksgiving, 4I 

The Song of the Scythe, 43 

Bomoseen, ^^ 

A Fireside Song, 40 

The Years, cq 

A Stumbling-Block, 52 

A Hymn, 53 

To a Friend, g^ 

(3) 



4 CONTENTS 

Other Lyrics (continued) : Page. 

Cuba Libre, ^^ 

A Slumber-Song, ^' 

"I Would be Brave," 58 

" What Lack I Yet? " 60 

" He Shall be Called," 62 

" Jesus, I my Cross have Taken," 63 

Thanksgiving Day, 65 

Lines read at an Alumni Meeting, 68 

The Man who will Fight, 75 

To Mrs. E. C, 76 

To Mrs. B. — An Acknowledgment, 78 

An Acrostic, 79 

To my Wife — An Apology, 79 

With a Christmas Gift, 80 

Trifles: 

With a Copy of La Fontaine's Fables, 83 

With one of Bill Nye's Books, 83 

With a Copy of Ouida's " A Dog of Flanders " 84 

Ian Maelaren, 85 

Whitehall, 86 

" I Went a-Fishing," 89 

Biadohed, 90 

A Ballad, 93 



TO MY MOTHER 



J(ansas 'Rtenies 



KAI^SAS EHYMES. 



Itan0a0. 



Kansas : the home of surging, ceaseless winds ; 
The land of vast and undulating plains 
That like the mighty ocean stretch away 
Boundless, save for the curtain, azure blue, 
Which from our eye conceals the Infinite : 
A treeless waste, o'er which tumultuous flames 
Were wont to leap like panic-stricken steeds 
Urged on by whips of hissing scorpions: 
But yesterday the bison's wide domain; 
The realm of coyotes, antelope, and deer ; 
The hunting-ground of wild and savage men. 

Kansas : whose sod was superscribed " Free Soil," 
By men who journeyed far for Freedom's sake, 
And, prodigal of treasure and of blood, 
Wrote Kansas high upon the scroll of Fame. 
John Brown of Osawatomie was there, 
And Robinson and Pomeroy and Lane, 
And a great host of earnest, thoughtful men. 
Who wrought as patriots for the common weal. 

(9) 



10 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYKICS 

Kansas : the Mecca of a caravan 
Innumerable that journeys toward the west 
In search of homes and honest competence : 
The young man and his new-found joyous wife, 
Surcharged with good old Anglo-Saxon grit, 
Ready to face and eager to subdue 
The wilderness, as once their fathers did. 
The sod is broke — the golden wheat appears; 
The plow is followed by a wealth of corn : 
A sound of hammers — lo ! fair cities rise, 
Minerva-like, with temple, hall, and mart.' 

Kansas : a land of drought and want and woe,— 
Yet more a land of plenty and of joy ! 
Siroccos now may wither ev'ry herb, 
And next year's crop make food for half the world. 
Fickle, perhaps, but as a whole, most kind: 
If now she frown, 'tis but to smile more sweet; 
Her children know her and do love her well. 
Accounting her the best of this green earth.' 



1896. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS H 



fH^t (5to\oim Corn* 

Upon a thousand hills the corn 

Stands tall and rank and glossy green; 

Its broad leaves stir at early morn, 
And dewy diamonds drop between. 

A myriad banners wave o'erhead. 
And countless silken pennons fly; 

The tasseled plumes bend low, 't is said, 
And only silken ears know why. 

Those bending plumes — those upturned ears 
Methinks it is the old, old story! 

Dame Nature still, with rapture hears 
The song she heard in Eden's glory. 

And so is wrought this miracle 

Of life and growth unto perfection, — 

A mystery that none may tell, 

Save that God gives to it direction. 



12 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Day after day, witli scorcliing ray, 

The burning sun has risen and set. 
No cloud on high in all the sky 

Protects us from the dreadful heat. 

The wells are low ; springs cease to flow ; 

All nature droops in the terrible dearth ; 
The dust, in clouds, like vast gray shrouds, 

Envelops and hides the suffering earth. 

Then from the mouth of the heated South, 
Comes forth a breath so parched and dry 

That manhood quails and courage fails. 
For the direful hot winds are nigh. 

With fiery breath, the South-wind saith. 
As he hurries impatiently on to his prey, 
" Whatever of good the sun hath withstood 
My warrant shall hear and quickly obey. 

" The corn shall wither ; hither and thither 

Shall fly dead leaves in my furnace-like breath ; 
All nature shall languish, and man, in his anguish, 
Shall hate me and curse me in impotent wrath. 

" Then I '11 whistle in glee, when their mis'ry I see. 
And hotter and louder my breath shall swell, 
Until I am hurled by the Judge of the world 
Down shrieking below to the confines of hell." 



1883. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 



Listen ! — it rains ; it rains ! 

The prayer of the grass is heard; 
The thirsty ground drinks eagerly 

As a famished man eats bread. 
The moan of the trees is hushed, 

And the violets under the banks 
Lift up their heads so gratefully, 

And smilingly give thanks. 

May, 1902. 



fe9* t^* «^* 



13 



M ittne. 

Dame Nature dons a dainty gown 
And scarce can find excuse to frown. 
While all the world smiles in her eyes 
Approval of her sweet disguise. 

1899. 



14 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

fUtttt Bnt Pear'0 Crop. 

Oh, you '11 never find a country, 

Look you far or look you near. 
That can hold its own with Kansas — 

Sunny Kansas without peer! 
For there 's health in all her breezes, 

And the ozone in the air 
Makes you feel as rich as Croesus, 

Tho a pauper otherwhere; 
And you find yourself a-dreaming 

Happy dreams that will not stop. 
Till they 've got you past the harvest 

Of the 

I^ext 

Year's 

Crop. 

It is true sometimes things worry, — 

Sure, the outlook's mighty blue 
When the wind gets sou'-sou'westward 

And blows hot a whole week through ; 
When the chinch-bug gets his work in 

And the 'hoppers take the rest ; 
When a cyclone or a hailstorm 

Knocks the wheat-fields galley west. 
But we soon forget these trifles. 

For we know we '11 be on top 
When we gather in the shekels 

From the 

N'ext 

Year's 

Crop. 



1895. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 15 

And in politics I 'm thinking 

You will find us much the same : 
If at times a trifle flighty, 

Level-headed in the main. 
We brought home our John James Ingalls 

And sent Peffer with his dreams, 
Just to be an object-lesson 

Of our statesmanship's extremes. 

But the Pops will be converted, 

Even Democrats will flop. 
When they bank their honest dollars 
After 

Next 

Year's 

Crop. 

Oh, we '11 get there — don't you doubt it ! 

And it won't be very long 
Till there rolls from off these prairies 

A Cyclopean, joyous song. 
For there 's Hope in Kansas sunshine. 

And there 's Faith in Kansas soil. 
And we know right well that Plenty 

Will reward our honest toil. 
So we whistle while we hustle. 

And we '11 work until we drop, 
For we '11 all be wearing diamonds 

After 

:N'ext 

Year's 
Crop 1 



16 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Comt to Iian0a0. 

There's a mighty bracin' air, 

Here in Kansas. 
All you folks that 's in the dumps 
'Cause you've had a lot of bumps, 
Jes' get up an' stir your stumps, — 

Come to Kansas. 

We don't loll around and mope, 

Here in Kansas. 
No, we don't ! We git a move 
On ourselves, which goes to prove 
That we 've struck the git-there groove. 

Here in Kansas. 

Things is movin' right along. 

Here in Kansas. 
I know tbey badgered us a spell. 
And some said they 'd live in hell 
Before they 'd undertake to dwell 

Here in Kansas. 

But them that stayed, they struck it rich. 

Here in Kansas. 
You bet your life they '11 never roam 
Across the ocean's briny foam — 
They 've got a Klondike right to bome. 

Here in Kansas. 



1898. 



KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYKICS 1^ 

There's cattle on a thousan' hills, 

Here in Kansas. 
A million hog-lots daily dine 
Ten million fat and healthy swine 
That pretty soon '11 be under brine, 

Here in Kansas. 

We 've got the finest of the wheat. 

Here in Kansas. 
An' corn-fields ! you jes' orter see 
How everlastin' big they be! 
An' then I know that you 'd agree 

To live in Kansas. 

What 's that you say ? " The Pops run wild 

There in Kansas ! " 
N'ow don't be scared one little mite : 
They bark a lot, but they don't bite ; 
Fact is, they '11 soon be out of sight. 

Here in Kansas. 

Agin, to all good folks I say, 

Come to Kansas. 
We 've got good fodder, salt an' swill — 
We 've got more Ian' than we can till — 
We '11 welcome you — you bet we will ! 

Come to Kansas. 



18 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Wiai0im Cane. 

The other da,y, a farmer 

From the burnt-np strip came in. 
He looked so hale and hearty 

And wore so broad a grin 
That I couldn't help but ask him 

The reason of the same, 
And quickly got the answer : 

" You see, I 'm raising cane. 

" The hogs will fatten on it, 

And the calves, they like it so 
That — you may take my word upon it 

You can almost see them grow! 
And the chinch-bugs never touch it, 

And the 'hoppers, too, abstain ; — 
You 're dead sure of making money 

If you 're only raising cane." 

Then my worthy friend, the farmer, 

Went forth upon his way, 
To tell, no doubt, another 

How he 'd been making hay. 
But thru my head kept running 

The words of his refrain. 
And I wondered if I 'd better 

Start in to raising cane. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 19 

And while I pondered on it, 

Mj eye ran down the street 
And hit that vacant corner — 

Just forty-four front feet — 
On w^hich I'd paid the taxes 

Ten weary years, in vain. 
And I felt that I 'd been raising 

What sounds a deal like cane. 

And the winters, springs and summers 

That have fled since '79, 
Passed again in swift procession, 

Sending chills adown my spine; 
For I saAv with clearest vision 

What calamities have lain 
On a million Kansas people 

Who've been blindly raising Cain. 

Away back in the '80's 

When we thought the earth w^as ours — 
When the corn-fields looked like forests 

And we never lacked for showers — 
When the shekels flowed from Europe, 

And New England's dollars came — 
Did anybody tell us 

We were really raising Cain ? 

Did anybody tell us, 

In those jesirs of senseless greed, 
That we were daft — plumb crazy ! — 

Were sowing thick the seed 



20 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

That would shortly bring a harvest 
That would be to us a bane — 

That would rest a nightmare on us, 
A true legacy of Cain ? 

No : never came a warning, 

But instead there came a Boom ; 
A boomerang, indeed, it was, 

And nearly struck our doom. 
For almost ev'ry living thing 

Had mirages on the brain, 
While town-lots sold to music — 

Oh, didn't we raise Cain ! 

And when the fuss was over 

And the pendulum swung back. 
And the sheriff came to see us. 

Saying gently, " You must whack," 
Sure, we knew full well his meaning, 

And it did'nt soothe the pain 
To remember our transgressions 

While we were raising Cain. 

And you know how things went crooked 

From Beersheba unto Dan — 
Went all awry, as only 

Affairs in Kansas can; 
How crop failures and low prices 

And scarce a smitch of rain 
Made votes to set Llewelling 

To raising still more Cain. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

It is amazing — very ! 

It is surpassing strange 
That after all we 'd suffered 

From Pops and Dems and change, 
When light, at last, seemed dawning. 

When we might whitewash the stain. 
The G. O. P. got funny 

And went to raising Cain. 

O my farmer friend, so jolly, 

Your cane may be all right ! 
But the sort of stuff that 's common 

Has got us in a plight 
In which I think we 're bound to stay 

Until, with might and main. 
We start to raising common-sense 

And quit a-raising Cain ! 
1896. 



21 



22 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYEICS 



%o tte SDandeUon. 

Bright, wayward flower that coverest all my lawn, 
With the rich hue that blurs the jaundiced eye, 

Would I could use thee for a pawoi 

At some brave shop whereto the passerby 

By triple balls of thine own color 's drawn. 
Could I once pledge thee for but just enough 
Of yellow dust, oft called " the stuff," 

I 'd think so kindly of thee that, I swear, 

Rather than mar thy rest I 'd leave thee there. 

When first I met thee in this Western clime. 

What transports filled — aye, overflowed — my heart 
A friendly face was thine, 

Which to my soul didst unexpected joy impart, 
I had not seen thee for so long a time. 

Oh, thou wast dear to me in childhood's days, 

And when in summer's haze 
Thy head had lost its gold and all turned white, 
I blew thy hair out by the roots, in keen delight. 

Thy strong, aspiring, hollow stem I split 

And made long ringlets, spirals, odd-shaped wheels — 
For nature put a curl in it. 

So when I found thee, then I cracked my heels 
In glee, and down upon the grass did sit 

And gloat upon my treasure. Thou didst call 

Such memories up, that, sure for all 
The world, it seemed the wheel of time had slipped. 
And thirty years had vanished Avhen it tripped. 



KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTIIEE LYRICS 23 

And so it was I nursed thee tenderly, 

And guarded thee from harm of every kind, — 

Preserved thee for futurity. 

Spring came again ; and then my anxious mind 

Was gladdened by thy face and progeny. 
O joy ! O rapture ! all my vs^atchful care 
Bore fruit beyond my dreams ; for there, 

With full a hundred faces, thou didst smile. 

And all my fears for thee didst quick beguile. 

Another springtime came: thou didst show up 

As usual — only more, a thousand fold ! 
Rare happiness o'erflowed my cup — 

It did, indeed ! — But mark me, I do hold 
A good thing overdone were best done up ! 

Thou overdidst thyself — that 's just thy fix : 

Thy wondrous, thy amazing tricks 
Of reproduction were, it seems. 
The reason why I took thy leaves for greens, 

And cut thy legionary head off when in bloom — 

Did many things which one should take amiss. 
But thou tookst gladly, as a boon. 

And throve the more, and seemingly in bliss 
At my ill-tempered treatment, called for room. 

More room, yet more in which to spread thyself. 

IS'ow I would swap thee off for pelf. 
For of thy charms too prodigal art thou; 
Thou 'd have the earth with half a chance, I vow. 



24 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

O Dandelion ! it grieves me much that tliou 
Hast fallen from thy high estate, and come 

To what I see thee now — 

A pest ! a first-class nuisance ! I 'm dumh : 

It almost breaks my heart! My head I bow 
In abject sorrow that thou, a Yankee herb, 
Of whose bright virtues all have heard, 

Wliose praises have gone forth in noble song, 

Shouldst ever have come West and gone so wrong ! 

1891. 



B, Buncb of Sonnets. 



(25) 



SONNETS 



Si JLo\it'%ttiet. 

I sit within mj desert home and gaze 
With vacant and unseeing eyes upon 
The various adjuncts of the place whereon 

Our mutual thought and toil have sought to raise 

A sweet oasis: and as I look, a haze 

Blots out the scene, and in its place is come 
A vision of green hills, and streams that run 

With gentle murmur like a song of praise. 

'T is the home of childhood and of early youth ; 
The hallowed ground that holds in sacred keep 
Mem'ries that cluster 'round the dawn of life. 

A face and form is there, which, in all truth, 
Is rarely absent from my thought — a sweet 

Girl face — so sweet I whisper, " Little wife ! " 

1888. 



(27) 



28 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYEICS 



Sintipo\it0, 

He said : " The world is black with sin and shame ; 

Men's hearts are fully set to do the wrong; 

They lust for gold and power, and in the throng 
IsTone think on Faith or Honor or true Fame, 
But only rush with headlong, reckless aim 

At their o"\vn selfish gain. So they be strong, 

It matters not who fall. Alas, how long 
Shall this vile world roll on in mortal pain ! " 

Said she : " The world is passing bright to me. 

I know that Virtue is a mighty force, 
That Love is strong, and Truth can never be 

O'erthrown. Faith's limpid stream from its high 
source 
Springs full and free, and on its tide I see 

Brave barks courageously holding their course." 

1892. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 29 



%itt and SDtatj^. 

'T is sweet to live, aye, very sweet, indeed, 
When roses bloom and all tlie birds do sing; 
When winds blow soft, and bappj days take wing 

In swift succession, leaving eacli its meed 

Of pleasant meni'ries and the pregnant seed 
Of joys to come ; when glowing visions bring 
Deligbt unsullied by a doubt or sting; 

When loving word but heralds loving deed. 

But if the wintry blast strike to the bone. 

And all earth's dearest hopes take wing and fly : 

If, asking still for bread, thou 'rt given a stone ; 
If, in life's highway, smitten thou dost lie, 

Sore hurt and bleeding and alone, alone ! — 
Then truly it were passing sweet to die. 

1893. 



30 



ICANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



God sends the angel of tlic Spring. The breeze 
That hastens from the distant sunny lands 
With dewy kisses, whispers his commands 

To silent thicket, dreary fields and trees 

All stark and bare ; and presently all these. 
Erstwhile so dead, are vivified. There stands 
The tree in living green; the naked sands 

Are clothed; and birds hymn forth his kind decrees. 

And long ago, at this glad time of year, 
Our Savior broke the heavy bands of Death 
And rose a conqueror from the mighty strife. 
And He will come — some morn He '11 reappear — 
Perchance, some Eastertide — and with a breath 
Call all the sleepers back again to life. 

1896. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



31 



%o an (faiSUt %i\v* 

A silver trumpet heralding the dawn ! 

IsTot tliine the blare the brazen bugle flings 

Upon the startled air; thy coming brings 
Glad tidings — not a call for battle-brawn: 
A happier mission thine, and far withdrawn 

From the red pomp that marks the path of kings. 

Of better things than these thy presence sings — 
Of holier deeds art thou a fitting pawn. 

O fragrant lily, white as wdiitest snow ! 

Sweet emblem of the power and love of God ! 
Speak to our souls ; our wavering faith increase 
Until w^e stand on Pisgah's height and know 
That He who brought thee from beneath the sod 
Will so bring us to life and joy and peace. 

1898. 



32 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



" iRot ^tact, bttt a &tootO/' 

Not Peace ? Alas ! not peace, but bitter strife ! 
The snowy banner may not be unfurled 
But we, tlirougliout this weary, sin-sick world, 

Must bear o'er sea and land the martial fife, 

Must see the crimson battle-flag and knife. 
Must see a brother 'gainst his brother hurled 
And Order into wild Confusion whirled : — 

And, haply, lead where purple tides are rife. 

The Sword must stay so long as Evil stays. 
For wdld Ambition must be Waterloos; 

And Yorktowns for Oppression ; nor yet cease 
For Wrong an Appomattox, till the blaze 

Of that great Sun of Righteousness shall loose 
The bands of Sin : then will we sing of Peace. 

1899. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 33 



Si mrmaif (Buttins. 

A birthday greeting I would gladly send, 
More eloquent than man did e'er indite 
To maid or matron, queen or sybarite; 

More loving words than lover ever penned. 

Or spoke, or thought, or ever tried to lend 

To voice or parchment. It should be all bright 
With memories of happy days, and light 

With hope of future joys that will not end. 

To her to whom this greeting comes, 't is meet 
That I should bring glad tribute. My arrears 

Of debt I cannot pay, but at her feet 
I lay the best I have, and have no fears 

That my dear mother will not warmly greet 
Her son's memorial of her seventy years. 

1894. 



34 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Manhattan weeps ! O'erwhelmed with bitter grief, 

The Greater City bows above the bier 

Where lie, all silent, lips whose words sincere 

But yesterday made vocal high belief. 

High hopes, and high resolves. Then as a thief 

Came Death ; and that brave heart that knew not fear 
Was still. No more, no more, upon that ear 

The loud acclaim of thousands for their chief ! 

An honest man is dead ! The world may mourn, 
For, of this species not too many live. 
He loved his fellow-men unselfishly, 
And was beloved by myriads that are worn 
And weary with unequal strife — who give, 
With glad surprise, homage to such as he. 

October 31, 1897. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYKICS 35 



Columbia— 1898. 

Stand forth, O daughter of the mighty West, 
Stand forth erect in all thy native grace, 
And take with simple dignity the place 

To which God calls thee. Surely, thou art blessed 

With all-abounding strength that the oppressed 
Of ev'ry clime may look upon thy face 
With confidence and live : the while the mace 

Of Tyranny falls weak at thy behest. 

Aye, stand thou forth, Columbia, erect 
Before the world, clothed in integrity; 
Free from all pride or avarice or fear, 
And with thy voice and thy strong arm protect 
The right, subdue the wrong. Then Liberty 
And Law shall thrive — Injustice disappear. 

August, 1898. 



36 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Kead at t|ie Celebration of tlie 6l0t ©fttimap of 
Keb. l^ocace 15u0fineU. 2D.2D. 

Right glad are we to-niglit — right glad! 
We greet each other with a friendly smile, 
We speak kind words and think kind thoughts, the 
while 

We seek to our good wishes still to add 

Good wishes more abundant. True, he had — 
He whom to-night we honor without guile — 
Long years ago our love. His latest mile 

On life's highway we garland, and are glad. 

Yes, we are glad; for with us still abides 
One who has been both counselor and friend ; 

A shepherd of unruly sheep, he guides 

With watchful care his flock, eager to lend 

Assistance to the weak — their weakness hides. 
Oh, may good angels still his path attend ! 

1897. 



KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 37 



node* 

(Read 13th chapter of I. (Corinthians.) 

Tho Eloquence sat on my lips enthroned; 
Tlio I could read the future as a book, 
And grasp with facile mind each subtle crook 

Of philosophic wisdom; tho I owned 

The power to solve all doubts ; aye, tho I moaned 
A self-made beggar, or with cheerful look 
Faced fagots for Truth's sake,— I could not brook 

To look on God unless with Love enzoned. 

Ah, Love transcends all virtues — is divine! 

It nestles in the heart like brooding dove; 
Is kind ; looks not with envious eyes ; doth shine 

Unconsciously as do the stars above; 
And longer than the stars, — they shall decline, 

But while God's throne endures, so long shall Love. 

1897. 



XiPtics. 



(39) 



LYRICS 



Si H^vtnn of ^^m^0sMm. 

The springtime toil, the summer heat, 

The busy autumn, all are past ; 
Our bursting bins o'erflow with wheat, 

And labor finds reward at last. 
For richest blessings on the sod 
We offer thanks to nature's God. 

A cry for help rang in our ears — 

From blood-stained, famished lips it came; 

A people wretched, poor, in tears. 

Besought our aid in Freedom's name. 

For courage to give just reply 

We thank thee. Lord, O God most high ! 

When War's dread flame lit up the land, 
And carnage hovered o'er the sea, 

Lo ! then our Captain took command. 
And brought us speedy victory. 

Of mighty deeds we make no boasts 

Save by thine arm, O Lord of Hosts ! 



(41) 



42 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

The tempest passed, no clouds remain, 
And sweeter is the air to all; 

Miasmas that for long had lain 

Are swept beyond our country's wall. 

'No North, no South, no East, no West! 

Praise God for union and for rest ! 

A vast domain! a people free! 

A nation conscious of its strength ! 
God grant it grow in symmetry. 

And be enlarged in breadth and length ! 
May our dear country ever be 
God's holy land of liberty! 



November. 1898. 



ICANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 43 



Now, Clovertops, be humble ; 

'Now, Blue-eyed Grass, bend low; 
Now, Timothy and Herd's-Grass, 
That tall and stately grow, 

Bow down to me — 

Bow down to me; 
Come, make obeisance low. 

For a king am I, 

And tlio you die, 
Ye may not say me no. 

O speckled Tiger-lilies, 

Buttercups so bright, 
O Dandelions and Daisies, 

Why shrink ye in affright? 
I come for you — 
I come for you — 

1 come with all my might; 

So bow you low — 
Down, down you go ! 
Ha ! ha ! you 're vanquished quite. 

O Bumble-bee, so burly, 

In your black and yellow coat. 
You'd better not be surly 

Or I '11 fling you in the moat. 
I 'd have you know, 
I 'd have you know 



44 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

The flowers on wliicli you dote 
Are truly mine 
In haying-time, — 

So cease your angry note. 

Grasses, Bees, and Blossoms, 
I care not what you say, — 

1 heed not joy nor sorrow, 
But slay, slay, slay! 

I '11 cut you down, 
I '11 cut you down, — 

You need not weep nor pray; 
I cannot feel. 
My heart is steel. 

My mission is to slay. 

So, Clovertops, be humble; 

And Blue-eyed Grass, bend low; 
And Timothy and Herd's-Grass, 
That tall and stately grow, 
Bow down to me — 
Bow down to me ; 
Come, make obeisance low. 
For a king am I, 
And tho you die. 
Ye may not say me no. 
1895. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 45 



A little lake unknown to fame, 

'Mid wooded hills and meadows green, 
Deserves right well the rhythmic name 
Of Bomoseen. 

The red man gave the name, 't is said, 

And simple justice did, I ween, 
Unto the beauties that are shed 
On Bomoseen. 

" The Beautiful ! " — By milder phrase 
Could not be pictured that demesne 
Of wood and rock and dancing wave 
Called Bomoseen. 

A child, upon its banks I lay 

And watched the shimmer and the sheen. 
The sunlight and the shadow play 
On Bomoseen. 

There, too, would often me beguile 

The whitecaps flashing thick between 
The headland and the wooded isle 
On Bomoseen. 

And w^hen a lad, no sport I knew 

That was not counted poor and mean 
If measured by a boat's glad crew 
On Bomoseen. 



46 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

I 've laughed aloud and laughed again 

To hear that jolly voice terrene 
Laugh back from eastern hills so plain 
O'er Bomoseen. 

I've heard the whippoorwill's sad note, 

The " whoo " of bird of solemn mien, 
The nighthawk's cry, high up, remote. 
O'er Bomoseen. 

I 'vc heard a chorus, passing great, 

Make music that might please a dean 
Ten thousand voices all elate 
From Bomoseen. 

And water-lilies white as snow 

From off her bosom did I glean, 
In halcyon days when sun sank low 
O'er Bomoseen. 

Aye, happy days ! for oft with me 

In my frail skiff, demure, serene, 
A maiden sat, content to be 
On Bomoseen. 

The sweetest maid in all the land ! 
I see her yet as she would lean 
To let the water kiss her hand. 
On Bomoseen. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 47 

The world holds many a limpid gem 

O'er which gay shallops oft careen, 
But I will place the diadem 
On Bomoseen. 

O little lake, unknown to fame ! 

Tho countless leagues may intervene. 
In dreams I'll smile and speak thy name, 
Fair Bomoseen ! 



1897. 



48 



ICANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



a Mttmt feionff. 

The calendar marks Winter, 

The mercury is low, 
The ground is white, and all is bright 

With the brilliance of the snow. 

Within our home is springtime — 
Sunshine and warmth are there — 

A rosebud blooms and fills our rooms 
With beauty rich and rare. 

So what care we for winter? 

Jack Frost may come and go — 
The snow may stay or melt away. 

We heed it not, for oh ! — 

A bud from oif Love's rosebush 

Has fallen at our feet; 
We nourish it and cherish it, 

For it is wondrous sweet. 

It tells of Love's great m^'stery — 
Of Life's strange genesis; 

It draws our hearts with all the arts 
Of perfect artlessness. 

We watch, its slow unfolding, 
We guard it with all care ; 

Tho 'tis so small, it's to us all 
That seems most sweetly fair. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 49 

To Him who made the flowers 
And singing birds and light, 
We humbly pray, "Oh, guard alway 
Our tender bud from blight." 
1893. 



50 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Once more is turned the glass; 
Once more begin to pass 
The swiftly flowing sands 
That in all climes and lands 
Mark Time's swift flight. 

Age cannot check that flow, 
Though Death, with tight-strung bow, 
Impatient bides the hour 
That gives into his power 
A man of might. 

Nor can Youth's eager haste 
To seize, at once, and taste 
Life's golden fruit so fair 
That seems, oh, wondrous rare! 
Augment its speed. 

But ever on and on, 
Heartless automaton — 
This stream is never low. 
Its banks will ne'er o'erflow, — 
Yet give it heed. 

It bears your life away. 
It warns you of the day 
That, be it soon or late, 
Comes to both small and great, — 
The day, your last. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 51 

The years — tliey come, they go, 
Like the sea's ebb and flow; 
Even as the pulses beat. 
So fall their hurrying feet, 
Till life is past. 

Thy years, they soon will end; 
Then heed them well ; attend. 
While run the sands for thee, 
To those things that shall be 
For lasting gain. 

For past Death's awful door 
Is Life forevermore ; 
A land where Time is not, 
A home where are forgot 
Sorrow and pain. 

December 31, 1895, at midnight. 



52 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Si fetumbUng'-SIocfc. 

Because, professing still to be 
A follower of the Lamb of God, 

I walk in devious patlis where He 
Is never seen — has never trod, 

E'en thus it is that some thru me 

The Master's face may never see. 

Because, professing to be wise 

And to have found the Truth, the Way, 

I oft am seen in Folly's guise. 
Unmindful whom I thus betray. 

Yet so it is that some thru me 

To Heaven's gate may lose the key. 

Because, professing His dear name. 
Whose love is infinitely great. 

My tongue will even friends defame 
And flashing eyes oft tell of hate, — 

Alas, alas! that some thru me 

May, hopeless, face eternity. 

1899. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 63 



Si l^pmn. 

Written by request, and sung at a meeting of the Kansas Synod of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

O shepherds of God's myriad flocks, 

How fare the sheep — how fare the sheep ? 

The wolf is nigh ; rough are the rocks ; 
The winter snows are deep — are deep. 

Hear they the tender shepherd's voice? 

" This is the way — this is the way ! " 
And do ye in your hearts rejoice 

When leading back a sheep astray ? 

The Shepherd good gives to his sheep 
His life for theirs — glad sacrifice; 

For love supreme doth never sleep, 
I^or is it measured by a price, 

"Feed thou my sheep," the Master said, 
" If love of me in you be seen ; 
By living springs let them be led. 
And into pastures ever green. 

"Aye, feed my lambs — the little ones; 
Be patient, tender, never wroth ; 
Wlien bruised on Folly's jagged stones. 
To carry them be nothing loth." 

O shepherds of God's myriad flocks, 

How fare the sheep — how fare the sheep ? 

The wolf is nigh ; rough are the rocks ; 
The winter snows are deep — are deep. 

1809. 



54 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

O friend ! as at God's altar now 
You take a solemn, holy vow, 
And pledge jour love and faith to Him 
Who died to lift the world's dark sin. 
And as upon your head low bowed 
The symbol falls, may not a cloud 
In all your soul's horizon lie 
To hide the glory from on high. 

And as you take of bread and wine 
In memory of the love divine 
That gave a Savior to the lost 
And blessed a world at priceless cost, — 
Oh, may a blessing reach your heart 
Commensurate with " that better part " 
Wliich Mary loved, that you think meet — 
To sit and learn at Jesus' feet. 

And as the days and years go by, 
Should pleasures come or pleasures fly. 
Should sorrow, pain and anguish bring 
Their sharp, remorseless, bitter sting. 
Oh, look to Him whose willing ear 
Is never closed to prayer sincere. 
Who strength will give in hour of need, 
And everv crv for succor heed. 



1884. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 65 

Cnba JLihte, 

Awake, fair Isle, from thj troubled sleep ! 

O Pride of the Western Sea; 
The night is fled with its shadows deep, 
And the morn is come, and the glad waves leap 

To kiss the feet of the free. 

Look up, and behold ! Thy sky is bright, 

ISTo longer the clouds hang low; 
The wild bird sings with all his might, 
And mountain and valley are richly bedight. 

And thy rivers sparkle and glow. 

Arise ! for the chain of the tyrant is broke, 

Thy fetters rust under the wave ; 
Long ages of wrong are blotted in smoke, 
A strong arm uplifted has severed thy yoke, — 

Lo ! freedom has come to the slave. 

And laugh! a long and a joyous laugh; 

Rejoice, fair Isle, and sing; 
The Oppressor is swept from thy shore as chaff, 
And Liberty's cup is yours to quaff. 

Safe under the Eagle's wing. 

Then pause: aye, look around thee — think deeply 
and well, 

For Destiny waits on thy nod. 
The world's loudest plaudits 'tis thine to compel. 
Or, headstrong in folly, to strike quick the knell 

Of Freedom on Cuba's green sod. 



56 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

And praj : that the King that humbleth kings 

And exalts them of low degree, 
Will give thee the wisdom that righteousness brings, 
And add to that virtue all other good things 

That belong by right to the free. 

Then forward ! secure in an absolute trust, — 

God's favor will ever avail. 
To thy judges say sternly, " In judging, be just ; 
Lift Honor on high, raise Truth from the dust." 

Then hail, Cuba Libre, all hail ! 

1899. 



1895. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 57 



91 Clumber* &onff. 

O je sleepers, tappy are you, 

Lying low, lying low! 
Life's rude shocks no more can sear you. 
Pain from rest no more debar you, — 

Happy are you so! 

Slumber, O my loved ones, slumber ! 

Sweetly take your rest: 
Naught can trouble, naught can cumber 
Them who sleep among the number 

That our Lord hath blest. 

Heed you not the tempest's raving, 

'T will not work you harm ; 
'T is the waking who are braving 
Wind and wave, and toiling, slaving. 
Ever in alarm. 

Sleep, oh, sleep ! the night fast flyeth. 
Soon will dawn the day; 

Earth, in all her being, sigheth, 

ISTature to her Maker cryeth, 

" Take the curse away ! " 

Sleep, till He who slept shall call you 

To a life more bright; 
His dear voice will not appall you. 
But forever will enthrall you 

With supreme delight. 



68 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYEICS 



•* J toould ht 15tabr." 

I would be brave: 
Tho perils compass me about 

And terrors yawn on ev'ry side — 
Tho all the lights in heaven be out 

And utter darkness be my guide — 
Tho driven to the last redoubt, 

Still with strong heart would I abide — 
I would be brave. 

I would be true: 
Tho there be those that know not Truth, 

Wlio scoff at Honor's high decrees, 
Who stifle Duty without ruth. 

And stab a friend with careless ease, 
E'en tho the playmate of his youth ; 
Yet should all men be like to these, 
I would be true. 

And I would hope: 
Tho all about me cry, " Despair ! " 

Tho Pestilence stalk thru the earth, 
And crime and vice pollute the air — 

Tho were to perish all of worth 
And naught remain that once was fair — 
Tho lost were Gladness, Joy, and Mirth, 
I still would hope. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEE LYEICS 

And I would trust: 
Aje, to the end would trust in Him 

Whose watcliful eye will guide my feet 
Along Life's road made rough by sin, — 
'Mid burning heat and frost and sleet. 
Till at the end a quiet inn 

Shall welcome me to rest, to sleep — 
So would I trust. 

And I'll believe 
That after sleep I shall awake — 

Awake to life more full, more sweet, 
Wlierein my heart shall never quake, 

Nor hesitate my doubting feet: — 
Then of joys unending I'll partake, 

Aye, then my life shall be complete : 

I will believe, 
1895. 



69 



60 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 
Mark 10: 9. 

" Good Master, what rare thing — 
What act of mine can bring 
Peace to a heart at strife. 
And win eternal life? 

" I have tasted all earth's good. 
In the place of power have stood ; 
My name is without stain, 
I have wealth and friends and fame. 

" I have kept the laws of God, 
In the paths of truth have trod ; 
I have done what seemed the best. 
Yet my soul finds still no rest. 

" O Master ! cannot you, 
Who art so good and true. 
Who sight hast given the blind. 
And art so wondrous kind, — 

" Canst not Thou give to me 
A perfect remedy? 
My soul is sore beset: 
What, Master, lack I yet?" 

The Lord looked on the youth, 
And loved him for his truth ; 
Yet, to the earnest cry 
Sadly He made reply : 



1894. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 61 

" One thing tlioii lackest yet, 
One law thou hast not kept ; 
Tho favored be thy lot, 
Thyself thou knowest not. 

" Behold ! thy wealth is great, 
Princely thy name and state : 
Canst thou let slip these things 
And bear life's bitterest stings? 

" 'T is written, — even to thee, — 
' Thou shalt worship naught but me.' 

Dost not thine inmost heart 

Adore the splendid part 

" That now thou hast ? Look deep ; 
Then, if thou still wouldst reap 
The harvest of the blest. 
And find unfailing rest, 

"Go, throw wide thy door, 
And to the suffering poor 
Give all thou hast. Then see 
Thou come and follow me. 

" So shalt thou find thy quest ; 
So shalt thou have the best 
That this world holds — God's love, 
And great reward above." 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



**^t fefiall be Callen." 

He shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The ever- 
lasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6.) 

Wonderful is liis name 
Wlio for our sins was slain, 
Whose love beyond degree 
Hatli made salvation free. 

A Counseller is lie 
Wlio intercedes for thee; 
His precepts, just and pure, 
Through all time shall endure. 

He is the Mighty God ; 
By his potential rod 
Created worlds arose; 
All things in him repose. 

The Everlasting Father 
Is waiting, waiting ever, 
With pitying heart and mild, 
To welcome home each child. 

He is the Prince of Peace ; 
He bids all wars to cease ; 
Upon his glorious throne 
He rules by love alone, 

1883. 



KLtVNSAS BHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



"Jesus, I my cross have taken. 
All to leave and follow theeJ' 

Thus was sung as, slowly pacing, 
To the river's brink they came,— 

Godly pastor and fair maiden, 

There to honor Christ's dear name. 

"Perish every fond ambition, 

All I've sought or hoped or hfioiunJ^ 
Solemnly the music followed, 

Wliile with firm and thoughtful tread 
Entered she the rippling waters, 

Murmuring softly as they sped. 

"Let the world despise and leave me. 
They have left my Savior, too." 

Farther now into the river — 
River of Life to her to be — 

And the hymn came sweetly, sadly. 
Like a mournful prophecy. 

"/ have called thee, ' Ahha, Father,'' 
I have stayed my heart on thee.'' 

Silence then: her eyes uplifted 
Saw what mortal dare not tell, 

Then a moment lay she buried 
'Keath the river's limpid swell. 



63 



64 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

" Know, my soul, thy full salvation. 
Rise o'er sin and fear and care.^^ 

Strongly pealed again the anthem — 
Faith and triumph marked the song 

That arose in joyful cadence 
From the sympathizing throng. 

" Thinh what spirit dwells within thee — 
What a Father s smile is thine." 

Softly now: the sunset glory 
Mirrored in the placid tide 

Seemed a benediction on her — 
Heaven's own portals opened wide! 

" Haste thee on from grace to glory. 

Armed hy faith and winged by prayer." 

Aye, it will be so: for surely 
He who heeds the sparrow's fall 

Will not lack in tender mercy 

When for succor she shall call. 
1892. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 65 

May benedictions rest upon 

The memory of those good men 
Wlio planted in New England soil, 

In days long gone, the seeds that then 

Seemed but to have precarious chance 

Of taking root and holding life; 
For hard and rocky was the ground. 

And long and bitter was the strife. 

The winter winds blew cold and drear ; 

The snow lay deep on all the land ; 
Gaunt Famine stared with hollow eyes, 

And Fever raised her burning hand. 

A wily foe lurked in the wood ; 

ISTo sail appeared upon the sea ; 
The solemn service for the dead 

Was heard with fearful frequency. 

But those brave men and women true 

Had in their souls that living fire 
Which no adversity could quench. 

And Death did but their zeal inspire. 

They trusted God with all their hearts: 
To worship him without constraint 

They left the home their fathers knew. 
And faced distress without complaint. 



66 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

Theirs was the faith that lives by works; 

No lukewarm platitudes they knew; 
The ill they cared for and the weak, 

The while they made laws just and true. 

They fasted oft and often prayed, 

And labored, too, with all their might. 

Through that first winter's dreary days, 
Until, at last — oh, joyful sight! — 

A weatherbeaten ship was seen — 
The Lyon, coming up the bay. 

Full-freighted with all needful things: 
Then came our first Thanksgiving Day. 

Not thrice a hundred years have sped 
Since Winthrop, as chief magistrate 

Of that small band of Pilgrims there, 
Proclaimed a solemn public fete. 

And charged that each and every one 
Should bow before Jehovah's throne 

And render grateful thanks and praise 
For hunger stayed and word from home. 

And yearly, from that day to this, 
New England folk have kept a day 

Half sacred in their calendar — 

Wliich heaven grant they keep alway ! — 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

For then tlie wandering child comes home, 
And homeless ones find hearty cheer ; 

The fires of love and joy burn bright, 
For God has blest them all the year. 

And, later, over all the land 

This happy custom has been spread ; 

The ISTation's chief the day proclaims, 
And threescore millions bow the head. 

Thru all the sisterhood of States 
The welcome message, flashing, flies. 

Till far-off Oregon responds 

And Massachusetts quick replies. 

The fair twin sisters of the i^Torth 
Join voices in the glad acclaim. 

While from the dusky, sunny South 
Comes up a languid, sweet refrain. 

The anthem swells from sea to sea, 
From orange grove to dark pine wood, 
" O render thanks to the Most High — 
O praise the Lord, for He is good." 

1891. 



67 



68 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Read at an Alumni meeting of the State Normal School, 
CastletoHj Vt. 

Old Father Time is very old, 
His age no man can measure ; 

But still with footsteps strong and bold 
He scatters wide his treasure. 

He sows broadcast the days and years, 
The weeks, the months, the seasons; 

He sows the seed of joy and tears, 
Nor deigns to give his reasons. 

Yet every twelvemonth passing by 
Brings one of joy and gladness, 

In which fair nature breathes no sigh 
And rarely dreams of sadness. 

And as this month draws on apace. 
And summer smiles around us. 

Our tho'ts revert — if not ourselves — 
To the scenes that here surround us. 

For was it not in one bright June 

That we, in all our glory. 
Our hearts with nature's all atune. 

Spoke here our little story, 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 69 

That told the whole, wide, careless earth, 

With all due animation, 
We 've passed, at last, — please note our worth, — 

The final examination ! " 

Ah, happy were the days spent here; 

And yet we hardly knew it. 
So bright the future seemed to us, 

So eager to pursue it. 

We built our castles in the air, 

And bravely them defended; 
We slew great giants of despair 

And all that on them tended. 

O happy days ! O harmless dreams ! 

You're past and gone forever; 
Life's battle quick has dimmed the beams 

That glanced from youth's bright armor. 

For life is not a tournament 

To please the lads and lasses, 
But is a battle where are lent 

Strong blows and ugly gashes. 

And he who in defense of right 

Refuses to surrender, 
Is sure to feel the venomed spite 

Of many a false pretender. 



TO IvANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

But letting pass all care and strife 
And life's too frequent sorrow, 

Let 's have one day of the old life, 
Regardless of to-morrow. 

We '11 walk again familiar ways. 
And climb tlie hill of knowledge — 

We'll rush pell-mell from hall to hall, 
And "cut up" a la college. 

We'll call each other by the names 
That years ago we went by ; 

We '11 be the boys and girls we were 
Before we were alumni. 

Oh, could these walls their silence break, 

And (with discrimination) 
Unfold the history of these rooms 

From earliest occupation. 

And paint with true historic grace 
Each scene of fun and frolic, 

And not omit to give their place 
Some things more solemn — colic — 

Could all these things be written down 
And clothed in language proper, 

Methinks each 'lum would give a sum 
Far past their weight in copper. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 71 

And jet perhaps it's just as well — 

Yes, just a little well-er — 
That these old rooms should hold their tongues, 

And not "tell on a feller," 

But only whisper in our ears. 

In accents soft and tender, 
The things that we are knowing to. 

And bid us still remember. 

Ah, how our tho'ts tumultuous rush. 

As well-known objects greet us; 
We feel that truly we 're at home. 

And our friends are here to meet us. 

For though we see but here and there , 

A classmate's face before us, 
We have about us everywhere 

A vast, a countless chorus. 

That, voiceless, speak; that, dumb, yet sing. 

Unto our hearts the story 
That we may never quite forget, 

Tlio our heads grow old and hoary. 

We look below us and we see 

A town so old, so ancient, 
Some say 't is dead ; but 't is not so — 

It 's resting, calm and patient. 



72 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

Perchance it dreams of long-lost years 

When it was all-important, 
When thru its streets rushed armed bands, 

With all war's sounds discordant. 

When came brave Allen and his men. 

And Arnold, full of hauteur ; 
When came St. Clair in wild retreat, 

And the escaped of Warner's slaughter. 

Perchance more peaceful are its dreams 
Than of battle's fierce abandon; 

Perhaps the dream is of noble men, 
As the elder Hjde and Langdon. 

Our restless eyes soon leave the town. 

And o'er the country wander 
To the same green fields — the same old woods, 

And Birds-Eye over yonder. 

And just across the great ravine 

Spruce Knob, as spruce as ever, 
Looms up still richly clothed in fir, 

Still generous and clever. 

For has not this same mountain been 

To half of Rutland county 
The source of ail-but boundless joy 

And gummed us with its bounty ? 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYEICS 73 

All honor, then, to old Spruce Knob; 

May her virtues never perish ! 
And while shall last her knobby spruce, 

Spruce Knob we'll surely cherish. 

The mountains, valleys, hills and vales. 
We know them all, — we love them ; 

But nearer yet are dearer friends, 
That we must place above them, — 

This spacious park, these grand old trees, 

These buildings quaint and olden; 
These rooms so dear with memories 

Of years all bright and golden. 

Ah, Thought paints with a rapid hand 

The pictures as we knew them. 
And Fancy stands forever by 

To heighten or subdue them. 

Through misty eyes we see again 

Those dear familiar faces, 
And find them, as in former days, 

In their well-remembered places. 

Through dreamy ears we hear once more 

The hum of recitation; 
And, listen! — can it really be 

A soft " communication " ? 



74 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

Well, yes, it may liave been, — for know. 

Full wisely it is spoken, 
ISTot all the growth these halls have seen 

Has a diploma for its token. 

For many a maid with laughing eyes 
And a saucy tongue has planted 

Seeds all unknow^n to botany — 
Seeds ne'er to be transplanted — 

In the tender, fallow soil 

Of hearts young, strong and manly, 
Which gTCw a wondrous growth, I ween. 

And bore its fruit as grandly. 

Ah, not among the least of all 

Our Alma Mater's blessing, 
Have been the loves and friendships made 

While round her table pressing. 

And tho shall dim our memory be 

Of cubes and hydrostatics. 
And much of all we boasted here 

Lost in our brains' dark dusty attics. 

Yet still unchilled our hearts shall be. 

And ever warmly beating, 
Wlien to us comes — tho distant far — 

The C. N. S.'s greeting. 



1895. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS ^5 



It is now mucli the fashion to eulogize Peace, — 

A sentiment, truly, that ought to increase; 

But there 's a thing that I do, and I still think it right, — 

I take off my hat to the man who will fight. 

I have oft known a horse-thief, caught in the toils, 

To clamor for peace — oh, his zeal fairly boils! 

And the man who suspects that his purse would be 

lighter, — 
He utterly loathes a man that 's a fighter. 

And others there are who are always for peace — 
The wretchedly lazy ; may their tribe fast decrease ! 
But I honor the man who thinks himself right. 
And throws off his coat for a square, honest fight. 

There's the devil himself, — he is mightily prone 
To do hellish work when you leave him alone ; 
He's a coward, and quickly will take unto flight 
If met by a man who is willing to fight. 

So I take off my hat to the bellicose man ; 
Of every good movement he 's found in the van ; 
Be he preacher, or poet, or statesman, or wight. 
Hurrah, thrice hurrah ! for the man who will fight. 

1899. 



76 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



IRead at tfie Celebration of tfie 80t5 ©irtfitrap of 

a^tjEi. e. c. 

We 've met to-day to honor one 

Wliom we have known so long, so well, 
That when her favors first begun 
We cannot tell. 

We know that long and long ago. 

When we were children, very small, 
Her doughnuts won our hearts, and so 
She fed us all. 

And when at last full grown we stood. 

The deeds she did, the words she said 
AVere wise and true, and sweet and good 
Like her white bread. 

And all along life's hilly road. 

When faint and weary and in need, 
She helped to carry every load, 
A friend, indeed ! 

We celebrate her eighty years 

Of faithful, honest life and toil. 
The seed she cast in joy and tears 
Struck fertile soil. 

ll^or is our friend's life's labor o'er; 

Tho fourscore years rest on her head. 
They rest but lightly, — twenty more 
Mav hear her tread. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS T7 

Old age — and truly, good old age — 

Is honored by both God and men, 
A blessing which Heaven grants the sage: 
We say. Amen! 

Amen; and may it oftener come — 

As it has come to you, dear friend — 
With health and hope: may it so run 
To peaceful end. 
June, 1891. 



78 



KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYKICS 



^Ho !9l^r0. T5- 



Acknowledging a New Year's Gift. 

" The cup that cheers " I had eschewed, 

And Mocha's fumes no longer bound me ; 
The kitchen pump, tho old and rude. 
Supplied the nectar nature found me. 

I was content with simple food, 

And cistern water filled the measure 

Of my desire for liquid good; 

'T was ample gastronomic pleasure. 

I thought with pride how wise I was. 
And hugged m^yself, philosophizing 

On myriad ills that have their rise 
In things not good, tho appetizing. 

My logic was complete and trite, 

You couldn't move me with a hawser ; 

Yet my resolves all took to flight 
When I beheld this cup and saucer! 

And when from out this China ware 
I drink the herb of China's growing, 

I '11 fancy that the fragrant air 

From violet-covered fields is blowing, 

And in my heart I'll surely bless 
The kindly thought that led the giver 

To thus so happily express, 

" Bon voyage on Time's turbid river ! " 
1897. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Sin Sictofitic, 

This band of yellow metal bright — 
Oh, may it bring you rare delight! 

May it, as summers come and go. 
Yet dearer to your true heart grow. 

What tho it binds your life to mine — 
Is not Love's vassalage divine? 
From its sweet bondage who 'd be free ? 
E'en Freedom courts such slavery ! 






Uo ^n mitt. 

AN APOLOGY. 

I 'd write you, Love, but cannot do it ; 
For, when I take my pen in hand, 
I see your face and can't withstand 

The impulse to quit all and woo it. 



79 



80 KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



mu^ a Cgti0tma0 (HitU 

My dear little wife, here 's a present I bring you ; 

It 's not very costly, nor yet very large, 
But it carries more wealth than a Croesus could fling you, 

Or the Lady of Nilus from her silk-winged barge. 

Oh, it bears in its bosom a blessing unmeasured 
By the riches and honors of earth's high degree ; 

It holds what in all time good women have treasured 
As dearer by far than the pearls of the sea. 

It brings to you, darling, what would, were it able, 
Give you all that is good in this brief stormy life, 

"What would shield you from ev'ry rough wind and the 
babel 
That fills this big world with commotion and strife. 

And Avhen at the last you arc led by the angel 

To the brink of the stream whose dark M^aters none fly, 

'T would still go before you, a loving evangel. 

And bring you safe home to your mansion on high. 

You doubt if such wonderful treasure may be there ? 

You ask, " Will it last, and be ever the same ? " 
Pray look in my eyes for your answer, and see there 

The love of your husband, ma chere petite fermne. 



Utifles. 



(81) 



TEIFLES 



1894. 



1896. 



mUf^ a Cop? of JLa ifonta(ne'0 ifalile0. 

The devil by all is conceded to be 

Tbe Fatber of lies of ev'rj degree, 

But pardon me, please, — right under your eyes. 

Indeed and in truth, is The Fountain of lies. 



^* ^w ^w 



mit^ cm of 15(11 il2?e'0 Boolt0. 

When you read the lies of 'Nje, 

And are puzzled to know why 

He doth lie, — 

Why he lieth up and down, — 

Do not frown, 

But believe these lies are sent 

Only to bring merriment — 

And renown. 

(83) 



84 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Wit^ a Cop? of jQDnitia'0 **Si SDos of Jplandetd/' 

To you, I'm sure, it will occur, 

When you shall know this Dutchland dog, 

That how-wow virtues thrive right well 
Amid the gloom of Flanders' fog. 

And more than this you too will find 
While grieving at Patrache's plight, — 

For Antwerp's suburbs cannot hold 
All beastly curs that walk upright. 

For there are dogs as well as men, 

(My meaning, surely, you will catch,) 

And so I pray you will forgive 
This doggerel, this puppy snatch. 

1893. 



KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



9an 9^aclattn. 

" Beside the bonnie brier-busli " — 
The bonnie, bonnie brier-bush — 
Maclaren, like a sweet-voiced bird, 
Sings such rare songs mj heart is stirred, 
My heart grows warm, my eyes are dim. 
My better self looks out to him 
Wlio brings to careworn men like me 
A glimpse of honest Arcady. 



85 



1897. 



86 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

mmtwi 

ISTestled in between the hills 
Down whose rngged sides the rills 
Leap and laugh 'mid daffodils, 

Lies Wliitehall. 
Thru the middle of the town 
Wood Creek carries water down 
To the bay upon which frown 

Mountains tall. 

And there, too, Champlain's canal 
With its locks tyrannical 
Holds the flood a criminal, 

At ^^niitehall. 
There on towpath plods the mule 
Careless of the ridicule 
That, tho his by ev'ry rule. 

Can't appall. 

But he 's mulish just the same, — 
Kicks so hard, yet looks as tame 
As any brute that ever came 

To Wliitehall. 
Still, I 've come to think that he 
Does about the same as we 
Would want to do were we to be 

In his stall. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 87 

East-Nor'-east, as sailors saj, 
Mj birthplace was not far away: 
Six miles, to be exact, it lay 

From Whitehall. 
Vermont's high hills rose to the east, 
Crowned evergreen as for a feast, 
Until to mountain-peaks increased 

That verdant wall. 

And westward on the horizon's brim 
The Adirondacks, massive, grim. 
Stretched northward farther and more dim 

-From Whitehall. 
To me those Titan walls hemmed in 
A mighty world, wherein the din 
Seemed surely great enough to win 

The hearts of all. 

And when a boy, I could not see 
What could prevent man, bird or bee 
From being wild with ecstacy 

In Whitehall. 
I thought that town was near the skies, 
And had I had a chance to rise 
I would have said, " This will suffice, — 

You needn't call." 

And there were steamers on the bay, 
And yachts and row-boats were at play, 
And rafts and barges always lay 
At Wliitehall. 



1896. 



KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 

The water filled me with delight; 
At sight of it my eyes grew bright, 
I'd run away — which wasn't right! — 
To see a fall. 

And there were other things to see 
That always interested me, 
And made me ever want to be 

In Whitehall. 
The massive piles of lumber there, 
The smokestacks tall that rose in air 
So very high they made me stare, 

Wlien I was small. 

The railroad ran right in the street ; 

It wasn't very nice to meet, 

With horses skittish, young and fleet. 

In Whitehall. 
Then, too, that tunnel took my eye. 
And made me wonder when and why 
They went straight thru a hill so high — 

It made me crawl ! 

And there were endless things to buy, 
If one had cents ; it made me sigh 
'Most ev'ry time that I drew nigh 

To Whitehall. 
My wealth was small — ofttimes non est 
Wliich, like as not, was for the best, 
For had I worn old Croesus' vest, 

I 'd 've bought it all ! 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 89 

**J mmt a*iF(0|iinff." 

I went a-fisliing, don't you know, 
And with a friend who made me row 
A punky boat that wouldn't go 
N^o faster than about so-so. 

I rowed four miles, and called it fun; 
But when the sport was well begun 
Big thunderheads shut out the sun. 
And Boreas came on the run. 

To reach a bridge we broke our backs, 
While nearer came sharp, awful cracks 
That added vigor to the whacks 
We madly made in making tracks. 

And there we sat and heard the glee 
Of forty thousand frogs, while he 
Who caused my woe said placidly, 
" We 're mighty lucky, don't you see ! " 

It rained and rained, and rained some more — 
Soon muddy rills poured thru the floor. 
Ran down Jim's back, and then he swore 
And damn'd the thing from shore to shore. 

We got back home ; but as for me, 
I 'd face the awful Snicker- Snee 
Before again I 'd tempted be 
To fish with Jim for company ! 



1894. 



90 KANSAS EHYMES, AND OTHER LYEICS 

Read at a meeting of The Philharmonic Society, July, 1891. 

Should jou ask me why I did it — 
Wliy I murdered Hiawatha — 
Why I strung these words together, 
Having neither rhyme nor reason — 
Having nothing to commend them 
Save their number, which is legion, — 

To your quick and angry question, 
I would sorrowfully make answer, 
Bowing low my head in anguish, 
I would answer you in this wise: 

" It was not a deed of malice ; 
Dark Revenge had no place in it; 
Neither was it cruel pleasure 
That impelled me thus to carve him. 
It was done in desperation — 
In a wild and lurid moment 
"Wlien my soul was lost to reason. 
And the rhythm of my being 
Disappeared in utter chaos," 

Therefore, friends, be not too hasty ; 
Blame me not till I have spoken. 
And I'll paint the provocation 
In such language, with such pathos. 
That your hearts shall take on strangely. 
Palpitate and swell with pity. 
Be they hard as nether millstones. 
Hence, I pray, give close attention 
While I briefly tell my story. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS ^1 

In tlie hottest days of summer, 

I was called upon to render 

"ISTotes on Music" at a meeting 

Of a club that I belonged to. 

ISTow the club was made for music, 

Made with music, made of music: 

All the members but jour servant 

Warble, play, or blow the cornet. 

!N'ow, pray see! I had no business 

To be mixed in such a fashion 

With a music-loving people, 

ISFot being gifted likewise with them. 

Could I vocalize like Dewey, 
Sing a song at Parr or better ; 

Pound sweet sounds from oif the iv'ries 

As the greater part of you can; 
Could I quickly fill a measure 
With a Peck or more of bird-notes; 
Man a mandolin or something; 
Or, like Bowman, wield a baton, — 
Then, ah, then it had not happened, 
This infliction never had been. 
Long and faithfully I labored 
To fulfill the task assigned me: 
When I read the daily papers. 
Scanned I close their every column, 
Hoping there to find brief mention 
Of some fact to entertain you; 
All the magazines I searched thru, 
Thinking, " Surely here I'll find it — 
Here there must be something for me." 



92 



KA.NSAS EHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 

But, believe me, there was nothing — 
Absolutely nothing found there. 
Thus I searched, high, low, and crosswise. 
Searched until I gi*ew half-crazy, — 
Till it seemed that all musicians 
Must be dead or gone a-fishing. 

As the days sped quickly by me, 
" Notes on Music " haunted, vexed me ; 
In the busy hours of business, 
In the silence of the night-time. 
Came those words and stood before me, 
Grimly came and stood before me, 
Came and stood there, silent, mournful. 

Then it was I seized my Faber — 
In a fit of aberration 
Fell upon that honest Injun, 
Took his movement, feet and measure. 
Plucked a plume from out his headdress. 
And so made this Biadohed 
That has told this tale of sadness, — 
Told this tale of fruitless effort 
In a manner so pathetic 
That the hearer, gently sighing, 
At the close will, sotto voce. 
Say without a trace of malice, 
" I have suffered less than he has." 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHEK LYRICS 



93 



Si asallati* 

Reciting the breaking forth of the righteous wrath of John. 



Ho ! all ye sons of Belial, 
Ye bad men far and near, 

Unto this tale of righteous wrath 
Lend an attentive ear, 



An exhorta- 
tion to bad 
men every- 
where to 



And mend your ways while yet there 's repent 

time, for 

Lest haply on you light fear of 

Swift punishment and gruesome ills, punish- 

Your badness to requite. 



Our John he is a citizen 

Of honor and renown — 
Likewise an Irishman is he. 

From Londonderry town. 

He measures in his socks, I ween, 
Six solid feet of brawn, 

And his hair it is the color of 
The eastern sky at dawn. 

A lover of square-dealing folk, 

A friend to whom to tie. 
His heart is big and warm and true 

And honest is his eye. 

Likewise a hater hard is he ; 

A sneak he'll ne'er abide ; 
A liar or a thief, I say, 

Had best go quick and hide. 



ment. 



John 
a 

worthy 
man. 

Sturdy, 
and of 
florid 
complexion. 

A 

lover 
of right- 
eousness. 

And 
a hater 
of 
evil. 



94 



KANSAS EHTMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



Explan- For John does hasty things sometimes, 
atory of Wherefore, perhaps, 'tis due 

John's That I remark that John his hair 
temperament. It has an auburn hue. 

A bad man And once upon a time did hap 
comes to That to this town did come 

town, A bad man from Missouri, who 
who Of villains was the scum. 

has done This evil man had roped us in, 
us ill and Eke John among the rest, 

now seeks to And now had come to make us dance 
consummate To the tune that pleased him best. 

his villainy. The victims of this cruel man 
We meet, and. In conclave grave did meet, 

in dismay. Debating were it wise to fight 
consult Or fall down at his feet. 

upon Full sadly did we view our plight ; 
the Filled with chagrin were we 

impending That men of trade, erst deemed astute, 
evil. Should e'er such asses be. 

We Chock-full of grief, we called him in, — 
resolve Despair had made us brash, — 

to com- And bade him name our ransom, with 
promise. The discount off for cash. 



KANSAS RHYMES, AND OTHER LYRICS 



95 



A wicked smile sat on his lip, 

Satanic was his eye, 
As lie coolly told the weight of gold 

Our ransom would us buy. 

Then we looked down our noses, and 
Had never a word to say. 

'T was a monstrous wrong befell that 
throng 
Of witless wights the day ! 



The man 
is ar- 
ro- 
gant. 

Sadness pre- 
vails and 
John's 
wrath 
ferments. 



Then suddenly a movement like It 

A cyclone born in May breaks 

Swept 'cross the room, and, with a boom, forth 

Struck the bad man square away. ' ' 

Then rose there dire commotion, The 

Loud tumult filled the air ; bad 

There were pleadings, imprecations hot, man 

And from that man a prayer ! prays. 

Full many arms united were, John 

And forced John back a peg, is 

While the bad man from Missouri like ^^- 

A scared poltroon did beg. strained, 



But John he shook with fury, 
And, with Killarney yell, 

He leaped again with vowed intent 
To send that man to — well. 



but 
again 

breaks 
forth. 



96 



KANSAS KHYMES, AND OTHEE LYRICS 



The color 
of John's 
hair 
mentioned. 

By great 
valor we 
save the vil- 
lain's life, 

who suffers 
justly for 
his wicked- 
ness. 

The intro- 
ductory 
exhor- 
tation 

is 
re- 
newed. 



If you can't ^ess, no matter, — 

It had better not be said ; 
But of this I will acquaint you — 

Our John his hair 't is red ! 

Then, with despairing valor, 

Right in our John his track 
We flung ourselves, a hope forlorn, 

And held the fury back. 

And thus we saved the villain's life ; 

Full lame and sore was he, 
And a worse scared man you never saw, 

Nor are you like to see. 

So, all ye sons of Belial, 

Ye bad men far and near, 
Unto this tale of righteous wrath 

Lend an attentive ear, 

And mend your ways while yet there 's time. 

Lest haply on you light 
Swift punishment and gruesome ills. 

Your badness to requite. 



1898. 



